crickets chirping

Classes, commissions, talks, travels, new beginnings and bittersweet endings have turned my brief blogging hiatus into a full blown sabbatical. 


Life has intruded, as it sometimes does, so I'm taking this opportunity to go with the flow and see where it leads. The next two months will see me off on an South African adventure, exploring the savannas and enjoying the Portuguese Islands as well as a (potentially) final European jaunt eating and shopping my way through Rome and Paris before heading back to Dublin one last time to pack up and move on to the next big thing. Exciting times are ahead, and though the future remains unclear, I'm doing my best to embrace the unknown. 


Till next time,
FK

**Don't worry, the title doesn't make sense to me either. But S. Monster suggested it and as I couldn't come up with anything better so there you go. 

Finding Your (photography) Eye: part 2

Kat's Finding Your Eye e-course finished up last week and in true form I'm ever so behind in wrapping things up. Better than late than never, I'd thought I'd share some gleaming gems of knowledge gained with y'all Nuggets. (you can read about part 1 here) 


I love photographs of people but I rarely take them as I usually produce less than stellar shots. Prompted to spend time practicing photographing something familiar, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to get better at shooting people. And by "people" I of course mean one specific person who I could force convince to let me take 50 plus photos of him. 


Luckily for me, though he was less than thrilled, S. Monster didn’t put up much of a fight. I suspect it's because he learned how to ignore my obtrusive ways years ago. Regardless, with Stereomood on in the background, I sat and happily snapped away, trying new settings and exploring different angles. After I loaded them up on the computer I saw that, except for 2, most of the shots didn’t turn out as I would have liked. Those that did however, were happy accidents where the slight blurriess and faded light added an element that I could never have captured otherwise.

Kat’s e-course helped me focus in on what characterizes my photographic eye as well. Studying some of my favorite photos I saw that elements such as color, light, texture and lines/ shapes were consistent throughout my work.

There is a power in being able to vocalize what defines you. It helps narrow your focus and hone your skill to perfect what it is that makes you, you.

It’s a lesson that permeates far beyond the subject of photography, and one that as I slowly build a business I’ve seen the importance of first hand.

{All photographs by me} 

This course has helped me further define not only my photographic eye, but my design and artistic eye as well.  




It was a fantastic 2 weeks - thanks for such a great class Kat! xx

Off

{via here}

S. Monster and I are hitting the open road this weekend. It's been far too long since my last trip and my restless soul needs some wide open space to roam. 

See you Monday!

{Monday Edition} Life around here lately

Happy Monday nuggets! The past few days have been crazy. My weekend was filled with work that I could never have gotten done without the help of some amazing friends. As we kick off a new week I thought I'd share some highlights from life around here that I'm incredibly thankful for. 

{These lil guys were in our care for about a week while S. Monster and I  fostered them until they were old enough to be adopted. It broke my heart to give them back, but at least I know they've ended up in a good home. Just so you know, it took all my resistance not to flood this blog with cute kitty pics (though if I get drunk later all bets are off)}

{A shot of our "assembly line" as a group of friends pitched in to help finish clearing out the new studio space. See those lovely specs? It was so dusty in there, this was the clearest photo I could take.  Unfortantely due to several beer breaks, I forgot to take a proper group photo once we finished. Opps}

{Sunday was spent setting up for a photo shoot an incredibly talented friend of mine shot for  a few of my finished pieces. The end results will be shared in good time, but for now here's a lil sneak peek of whats to come!}

{After a long hard weekend, nothing's better than a pint and homemade pizza}

Tell me, what's making you happy today?


Cheers,
FK
 

{Inspiration} Friday edition

{Via here}

Things are picking up steam around here lately as I head into the home stretch with the past 6 months  of work cumulating into the next 10 days. So many exciting big changes are literally right around the corner and I can't wait to share them all with you, my lil nuggets!  It's all a bit scary but Holy Delusions of Grandur Batman is it incredible to think that I am *this close* to realizing what I've worked so hard for. As I pull my "get shit done" pants on (not to be confused with my "eat everything in sight" elastic sweatpants or "is it me you're looking for" tighty whities) I hope you all have a great weekend. xx

5 Things...

This past weekend was a lovely productive few days spent painting and creating. I finished up a few paintings I'd been working on and rediscovered my love of pencils. It's always been the medium I enjoy the most and am the most comfortable with but yet it's the medium that lately I've work the least with. Coming across an old sketch I did last year reminded me just how much I'd missed it. 

As we kick off a new week and month, here's to starting again, to reconnecting with that you've missed and to find joy in the little things. 

"Aspen Matthews" sketch done last year

Lovely lil reminders found while running

Peanut butter m&ms - dinner of champions

The start of a new project and a new space

I can't help but smile and break out in uncoordinated dance whenever this song plays (which lately is a lot). 

Enjoy!

xx

FK

{Inspiration} Beautiful words...

"you can go for a walk after dark
buy only what food you feel like eating
stare into space, indefinitely.
skip breakfast, eat two lunches and have cereal for supper

you don't have to reply straight away
you don't have to make sure everyone's ok
you don't have to do the thing that makes sense
you don't have to wait and see
you don't have to jump straight in
you don't have to care
you don't have to.

look at your life. look at your life.
that's right, it's yours!
what a gift!
you don't have to listen to what they think it should look like.

that's why you were given a drum
for your own rhythm
a body
for your own dance
and wings
because you can fly, even if today you don't remember how."

To read the rest of these powerful and inspiring words go here. 


It's amazing, these moments of connectedness, when you see that someone is having the same thoughts, the same revelations at the same time as you. I spoke earlier of life manifestos and liberating words to live by {here} so when I read this poem, so sweet and brave, by the oh so lovely and talented Tara I had to share. 


Go visit her blog to read the rest in it's entirety. I promise you won't be disappointed. 



xx
FK

{image via weheartit}

{work in progress} words to live by

Written in gratitude as a work in constant progress, a daily manifest to remind me of how I want to live my life: 


I am done worrying about the future or rehashing the past
I am over fear & insecurities that do nothing but drag me down


This is my life and I want to spend it in joyful jubilation
I want to wake up everyday with a purpose to laugh, love, sing, dance and create


I want to seek out adventure and never grow too old to play


I don't want to worry about success but rather know that it will always come if I work hard


I want to die dancing in the rain and know I enjoyed every day of my life

{via}

Tell me dear friends, how do you want to live your life? What is your personal life manifesto, what inspires, resonates and reminds you?  


xx
FK

Happy Tuesday!

I meant to write this yesterday but our weekend seemed to stretch into Monday, and I kinda forgot....so yea. You're getting it now (get excited) 

It was a sun filled 3 days filled with good company, good food and good weather (It was so warm I didn't have to wear a jacket! Yippee!)

Now because ya'll are the best little nuggets around, but mostly because I actually remembered to capture things (go me!), here's lil photo recap of the highlights ...

Dublin gay pride parade. Loud, colorful, fabulous. In other words, just what you would expect

Awesome artsy friends, tequilla and Dr. Sketchy's Anti Art school. What's not to love?

Dinner at one of my all time favorite restaurants in Dublin - nay, the world. Ravin pizza man may have something to do with it.

Long leisurely walks around the neighborhood followed by Ben & Jerry's "Coconutterly Fair."
'Nuff said

So tell me dear readers - what did you get up to this weekend? 

xx,

FK

EDITORS NOTE: So the video I'm trying to upload doesn't seem to be working...anyone know how to fix that? I am Spartacus! I am warrior of technology! 


Who knew google could be so helpful? :) 

Life

A few snaps of life around here lately....

picnicking under a blanket fort 

Enjoying the last of the cherry blossoms

waking up to a sweet heartfelt note on my birthday

discovering new areas to love in  Dublin

 exploring magical backroads in Donegal on a recent road trip

filling our lungs with sweet ocean air

falling for the views along the Atlantic Drive 

spending a rainy afternoon sketching in my favorite tea shop

Here's to celebrating those magical moments that brighten our days

xx

FK

Lazy Brunch Sundays

In honor of S. Monster's birthday, we threw a belated brunch and board game bash for 16 of our nearest and dearest.   

Confession: I totally used my husbands birthday as an excuse to go a bit overboard in planning for this.  

But I digress. Unable to have a party without a theme (the horror!), I used things on hand as the launching point for the newly appointed 'retro bohemian does spring' event (stop judging me with your eyes). Cute (and cheap!) green goblets and plates, curtesy of T.K. Maxx, helped set the green and white tone; a charity shop found vintage drink trolley, lime name card holders, stripped napkins and fresh flowers added the final finishing touches. 

A few detailed shots of the table setting before the masses descended. Look how pretty! 

Before I continue, there's something you should know about me. Less than 2 years ago I could barely cook dinner without wreaking havoc on anyone who ate it. My own cooking literally gave me food poisoning (twice). Yes it is a sad but true tale, but all is not lost. 

Please allow me a few moments to brag, m'lady:

 With S. Monster's help, we churned out homemade granola (which I am now obsessed with!), vanilla crumb cake, banana muffins, thin mint cookies (S.'s favorite) and breakfast pizza. We also had a spinach salad, fresh bread, cheese spreads, lemon bars along with fresh fruit salads (thanks friends!) and a few quiches (thanks Marks & Spencer!) on hand to round things out.  Impressive, I know. 

Of course, no brunch would be complete without a few drinks of the, *ahem* alcoholic nature

 *wags eyebrows...seductively* 

A trio of tasty thirst quenchers - bloody marys, mimosas and "happy juice" (pink lemonade, pomegranate juice and vodka) -were on hand to dutifully wet one's palette.

I totally color coordinated my outfit to my apartment. I'm pretty bad ass like that. 

After brunch the games came out, the day wore on and vodka eventually ran out.  Our last guest didn't leave until almost 7 hours after we began. Surrounded by good friends and good food, it was the kind of lazy indulgent day that spring is made for. One that made my inner 1950s housewife brim with the satisfaction of a day well done.

xx

FK

**P.s. I'm not sure where I was going with the whole "m'lady" or "seductive eyebrow" thing, but I'm gonna pretend it leads to greatness, ice cream and unicorns.